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NBA-Leading Bucks Still Getting 12-1 Odds to Win NBA Championship

Ryan Bolta

by Ryan Bolta in NBA Basketball

Updated Mar 23, 2020 · 10:56 AM PDT

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis could be closing in on his first NBA MVP award in 2019. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr).
  • The 36-13 Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA 
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected as a captain for the NBA All-Star Game and is a legitimate threat to win the MVP
  • Oddsmakers list the Bucks at +1200 despite stats that show they deserve to be considered elite

Everyone knows that all roads to the NBA Championship go through Golden State, but there’s still value in dabbling in the futures market for other teams who have a shot to surprise. A look at the 2019 NBA Championship odds shows clear value in a dominant team that the public has yet to embrace.

2019 NBA Championship Odds

Team 2019 NBA Championship Odds (01/31/19)
Golden State Warriors -200
Toronto Raptors +750
Boston Celtics +1000
Milwaukee Bucks +1100
Houston Rockets +1400

The Milwaukee Bucks are sitting 4th on the list which is no slight, but the price tag is still inviting to someone looking to fade the Warriors.  Here are three key reasons to look at the Bucks as the best bet on the board:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo is an MVP Candidate

Stars win in the NBA, that’s no secret. The fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo might be the game’s brightest star, that’s becoming less of a secret by the day. He’s averaging 26.5 points per game which ranks eighth in the league and has 12.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for sixth. He’s an absolute terror to guard and is widely regarded as the league’s most difficult matchup on a nightly basis.

2024 NBA MVP Award Odds Tracker
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Assuming teams need at least one star to compete for a title, the Bucks are in the conversation. Considering Milwaukee has one of the game’s best, they vault from a team with a lottery ticket to a team with a legitimate opportunity.

If you haven’t had a good look at Giannis or the Bucks this season, take time to watch the All-Star captain strut his stuff in the league’s showcase event. Not only is he in the game, but he’s the second captain alongside LeBron James.

2. Milwaukee Has an Elite Average Point Differential

The Milwaukee Bucks have an exceptional point differential of +9.7, which ranks first in the league, and it isn’t even close. The Golden State Warriors sit second, with a 7.4 mark. If you’re looking at only the East, the Bucks rank 4.3 points ahead of the Raptors,  who are second in the conference.  Often times this is the stat that points to a true contender.

The Milwaukee Bucks have an exceptional point differential of +9.7, which ranks first in the league, and it isn’t even close.

The Bucks aren’t just winning games, they are thrashing opponents. A big reason for their elite differential is an electric offense that scores 117.2 points per game, which is second best in the NBA.

3. The Bucks Have an Easy Path to the NBA Finals

Playing in the Eastern Conference is a massive advantage for anyone looking to challenge the Warriors for the title. Who stands in the Bucks way out East? The Raptors are good, so too are the Celtics and Sixers. But those series would all begin with Milwaukee having a great chance to finish as the victor.

As it stands, the Bucks are not only first in the conference, but first in the league. If the playoffs started today, they’d have home court all the way to the final and then in it as well. That’s good news for a team tied for the best home record in basketball at 22-4.

The Final Verdict

All signs point to +1100 being incredible value for this futures bet. If you’re looking to fade the Warriors and their extremely high cost, the Bucks are the best bet on the board.

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